Evelyn "Champagne" King Biography

b 1 July 1960, the Bronx, New York City, New York, USA. A former office cleaner at Gamble And Huffs Sigma Sound studios, King was overheard singing Sam Cookes A Change Is Gonna Come by Theodore Life, a member of the companys writing and production staff. He coached the aspiring singer on recording technique and was instrumental in preparing Kings career. Her debut single, Shame, was released in 1977 and after considerable success on the dance/club circuit - since regarded as a classic of its kind - it finally broke into the national pop charts the following year, reaching the US Top 10/UK Top 40. Evelyns second hit, I Dont Know If Its Right, became the artists second gold disc and she later enjoyed international hits with Im In Love (1981) and Love Come Down (1982). After a disappointing period during the mid-80s, her 1988 set Flirt was generally considered to be a return to form. Although her recording career has since gone into the doldrums, King remains a popular performer on the soul/dance music scene.

Source: The Encyclopedia of Popular Music by Colin Larkin. Licensed from Muze.